Definition

Verb (phrasal verb): - To depart or leave a place, often in an informal, hurried, or somewhat rude manner. It conveys the idea of moving oneself away, typically used as an imperative to tell someone to go.

Usage

This phrasal verb is used to tell someone to leave or to describe the act of leaving, especially when the departure is abrupt or the speaker is impatient. It is informal and can be perceived as rude or forceful.

Examples

• Imperative (telling someone to leave):
  • "You've caused enough trouble here; just shove along!"
  • "The party's over, everyone. Shove along, please."
• Descriptive (someone leaving):
  • "After the argument, he just shoved along without another word."
  • "The kids shoved along when they heard their mother calling."

Advanced Usage

• "Shove along" vs. "Shove off": Both are informal imperatives meaning "go away." "Shove off" is perhaps more common and directly synonymous.
  • "I'm busy. Shove off, will you?" (Here, "shove off" is used interchangeably with "shove along" in the imperative sense.)

Variants and Related Words

• Shove off (phrasal verb): An almost identical synonym meaning to leave, especially used as a command.
  • It's time for us to shove off.
• Push off (phrasal verb): Another informal synonym with the same meaning.
  • He told the salesman to push off.

Synonyms

• Leave: To go away from a place.
• Depart: To leave, especially to start a journey.
• Go away: A common phrase instructing someone to leave.
• Get lost: A rude and forceful way to tell someone to leave.
• Beat it: Slang for telling someone to go away immediately.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Clear off: To leave quickly.
  • The security guard told the loiterers to clear off.
• Buzz off: An informal, slightly rude way to tell someone to go away.
  • He just wanted to read in peace and told his little brother to buzz off.

Related Idioms

• Hit the road: To begin a journey or to leave.
  • It's getting late; we should hit the road.
• Make oneself scarce: To leave, especially to avoid trouble or an awkward situation.
  • When the boss arrived looking angry, he decided to make himself scarce.

Verb

1. leave; informal or rude
   • shove off!
   • The children shoved along
   • Blow now!